209: How many adhaan for fajr

How many adthans are there for fajr? If people are in the mosque do you still say
"prayer is better than sleep" I heard it is a biddah to do this. Apparently there is a hadith
to this effect. Could you send something?

There were two calls for salaat ul-fajr (prayer) at the time of Allaah's Messenger
(peace be upon
him), the first just before dawnfor those who are awake performing night prayers( Qe iaam
Al-lyl) so as for them to either rest for Fajr or have food if they intend to fast the next day, and for
those who are asleep in order they may begin to arouse and be ready for Fajr( since it is preferred
as early as possible)and the second at the actual time of fajr to indicate the appropriate time and to
call people to the prayer, among other benefits of the adhaan.

Regarding the second point, jumhoor al-'ulemaa' (majority of the scholars) agree that the statement
(within adhaan for fajr) "prayer is superior to sleeping" should be said in the second call to prayer.
Hence, the caller or mu'athin should adhere to the saying phrase and recite it even if people are inside
the mosque. It contains benefits which might be slip one's mind. Moreover, it reminds people of the
very fact: "prayer is superior to sleep" which concerns the immediate day as well as all forthcoming
days. Muslims benefit from it even when they are already in the mosque and gain the reward of
repeating it after mu'athin, as per the saying of the Prophet
:

"If you hear al-Mu'athin, say [i.e, repeat] as he says"

which is hadith sahih. Perhaps women and children who live near the masjid may benefit as well, and
even the Muslims among the jinn. Additionally, there may be some people who feel sleepy inside the
mosque or those who have nodded off while sitting. Thus, Muslims should preserve and practice this
sunnah and not abandon it. May Allaah make us all successful in following the sunnah and vigilant in
adhering and preserving it.